Half day handout agenda: Chennai

Hello Everyone,
Today I am going to share my experience on a half day trip for Chennai Dwellers.

We went for two places in Chennai's most happening place East Coastal Road (ECR).

• Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
• VGP Marine Kindgom

About: Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
This is situated approximately at 30 Kilometers from Thiruvanmiyur Railway Station. Open till 5 PM. Night Safari now open for public from 7 to 8:30

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust was established in 1976 with the specific goal of securing breeding populations of the three species of Indian crocodile: 

1. The mugger
2. The saltwater crocodile
3. The rarest of all, the Gharial

Today Croc Bank is home to 17 species of crocodilians, three of which are listed by the IUCN as critically endangered with a further three listed as threatened.

Following amenities / stalls are available inside the park:

• Gift shop (Too expensive)
• Snacks shop (Nominal to quickly quench thirst)
• Drinking water dispenser (RO)
• Washrooms

Other point to be noted:

• There are specific feeding times for few exhibits. 
• Maximum we can spend 2 hours if we slowly progress to all exhibits. 
• Entrance fees is 60 rs for adult and 30 rs for kids. 
• Ola / Uber can be booked at anytime for commutation
• Parking space for max 20 cars in front of the park
• Neatly maintained and good environment which will keep us away from heat
• Venom extraction show will be held inside the part which is chargeable and time bound.

CROCODLES IN MADRAS CROCODILE BANK TRUST:

1. GHARIAL
2. ALLIGATOR
3. MUGGER (MARSH CROCODILE)
4. NILE CROCODILE
5. SIAMESE CROCODILE
6. YACARE CAIMAN
7. WEST AFRICAN DWARD CROCODILE
8. TOMISTOMA
9. SALT WATER CROCODILE
10. MORTELLET'S CROCODILE
11. SPECTACLED CAIMAN
12. JAWS
13. BLACK CAIMAN

OTHER REPTILES IN MADRAS CROCODILE TRUST:

1. INDIAN FLAPSHELL TURTLE
2. INDIAN TENT TURTLE
3. TRAVANCORE TURTLE
4. RED CROWNED ROOF TURTLE
5. NORTHERN RIVER TERRAPIN
6. GREAT ANACONDA
7. ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE
8. STAR TORTOISE
9. GREEN IGUANAS
10. MONIOR LIZARD

About: VGP Marine Kingdom

This is situated approximately at 10 Kilometers from Thiruvanmiyur Railway Station. In the same direction of Crocodile park. we can plan to cover Crocodile park first and then come to VGP or we can do it other way round. Both will not have any loss of time. Open till 8:30 PM. Entrance fees 500 for adult and 400 for kids (Too expensive)

There are around 35 different species of marine animals ranging from lobsters to lion fish to baby Sharks. Highlight is the Ray roaming freely in open pool. The cleanliness of water and tank in all exhibits makes the place a good handout place for max 2 hours. Kids will enjoy the most though.

• Few cylindrical and closed tanks, lot of open pools in various sizes and an approximately 70 meter tunnel
• Most of the exhibits are well knows to us so no much surprises in collection.
• Indoor ambiance is too good to be described in words. 
• It is divided into 5 zones - Rainforest, Gorge Mangrove, Costal and Deep ocean. 
• All the interior designs both inside the pool and in common area are made up of artificial items which give us satisfaction. 
• Writings on the wall are good and informative but lot more can be accomplished as there are lot of empty spaces. 
• Though the area is closed and contains lot of sea creatures, there is no odour which is a good sign of maintenance. 

2 outlets are available in the exit for quick snacks. One rest room is available near the end of tunnel.